Colors That Birds Are Attracted To

Colors That Birds Are Attracted To

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perception is very important to birds' abilities to locate food and find a mate. Therefore, birds have a very keen visual sense when it comes to color, which can be said to be better than a human's. Certain colors attract specific types of birds for different reasons. If you know which colors attract birds and why, you can use this knowledge to draw birds to your yard. You can also use the knowledge to draw birds to certain areas of your yard away from the house in the hopes of preventing the need for bird removal. Here are some specific colors that have been observed to attract birds.

1. Red

The most common hummingbird species in Wisconsin is the ruby-throated hummingbird. Other hummingbird species that have been observed in Wisconsin include the rufous hummingbird and, in ascending order of rarity, the eponymous Anna's hummingbirds and Allen's hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are particularly attracted to red flowers. It may be because nectar-eating insects, such as bees, cannot perceive the color red and tend to leave these flowers alone. As a result, they tend to be full of nectar for the hummingbirds. Birds tend to be attracted to the colors they associate with food. This explains why red attracts hummingbirds as well as birds that eat fruit. The red color often indicates that fruits are ripe and ready for eating. Birds with red plumage tend to put it on full display when trying to attract a mate. This may be one reason why species other than hummingbirds are attracted to the color red.

2. Purple

Like red flowers, purple flowers attract hummingbirds. In one study, the same amount of sugar solution, an artificial form of the nectar that hummingbirds feed on, was placed in artificial blooms of different colors. The hummingbirds were observed to visit the purple blooms most often. Nevertheless, purple flowers attract other bird species as well. Insectivorous birds, such as flycatchers, are likely to be attracted by purple flowers. This is because purple, with its shorter wavelength, is well within the color range that insects can perceive. The insects may be attracted to the purple flowers, and the birds are attracted to the insects.

3. Yellow

Birds tend to be attracted to flowers in colors that are similar to their own plumage. Therefore, bright yellow birds, such as goldfinches, may be attracted to yellow flowers. Birds that eat seeds may be attracted to yellow because of its association with food. For example, the sunflower is a huge bloom with bright yellow petals that surround a head that may hold up to 2,000 seeds at a time. For a seed-eating bird, a single sunflower represents a huge feast, so it is no wonder that seed-eating species may be attracted to the color yellow. Interestingly, birds that are most active during or after dusk, such as nightjars and whippoorwills, are also likely to be attracted to yellow flowers. It may be because the light color is more visible to them in the dark, whereas deeper shades, even red, may get lost in the gloom.

4. Orange

Being a bright, warm color, orange may attract nocturnal birds for the same reason that yellow does: the flowers are more visible in the dark. Orange is also known particularly to attract orioles, and that may be because of the similarity between the color of the flower and the bird's plumage. However, there is another reason why orioles may be attracted to orange. Orioles feed on fresh fruit and show a particular fondness for orange slices. Therefore, they may associate the color of the flowers with one of their favorite foods.

Call Skedaddle for Bird Removal

Professional wildlife control in Milwaukee is especially important if birds build nests in your home because some birds are protected by international treaties, making it illegal to disturb their nests until the babies have grown. Be sure to give Skedaddle a call for humane removal services and ensure your home remains bird-free!

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Marcus Mueller

About the author: Marcus is the owner and operator of Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control – Milwaukee. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Marcus combines the academic training (M.S. Wildlife Biology, UW Madison) with the field training and skills to be successful in resolving wildlife conflict for home and business owners. Part of this field experience was working as an intern at a local wildlife rehabilitation center where Marcus interacted with Milwaukee residents experiencing conflict with wildlife on a daily basis. These interactions pushed Marcus to bring these needed services to Milwaukee and officially launch Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control – Milwaukee!

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